How severe is CVE-2024-40896?

CVE-2024-40896 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.1, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2024-40896 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (64th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2024-40896?

CVE-2024-40896 primarily affects Xmlsoft Libxml2. In total, 9 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2024-40896?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

Does CVE-2024-40896 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?

Yes. CVE-2024-40896 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2024-38822.

When was CVE-2024-40896 published?

CVE-2024-40896 was published on 2024-12-23 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2024-40896

CVE-2024-40896 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Xmlsoft Libxml2 with a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.1. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-611.

Key facts

Severity: Critical (CVSS 3.x base score 9.1)
EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (64th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
EU (EUVD) id: EUVD-2024-38822
Weakness: CWE-611
Affected product: Xmlsoft Libxml2
Published: 2024-12-23
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

In libxml2 2.11 before 2.11.9, 2.12 before 2.12.9, and 2.13 before 2.13.3, the SAX parser can produce events for external entities even if custom SAX handlers try to override entity content (by setting "checked"). This makes classic XXE attacks possible.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2024-40896?: In libxml2 2.11 before 2.11.9, 2.12 before 2.12.9, and 2.13 before 2.13.3, the SAX parser can produce events for external entities even if custom SAX handlers try to override entity content (by setting "checked"). This makes classic XXE attacks possible.
How severe is CVE-2024-40896?: CVE-2024-40896 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.1, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2024-40896 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (64th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2024-40896?: CVE-2024-40896 primarily affects Xmlsoft Libxml2. In total, 9 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2024-40896?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
Does CVE-2024-40896 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?: Yes. CVE-2024-40896 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2024-38822.
When was CVE-2024-40896 published?: CVE-2024-40896 was published on 2024-12-23 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (9)

cpe:2.3:a:xmlsoft:libxml2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netapp:hci_compute_node:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:netapp:solidfire_\&_hci_management_node:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:netapp:solidfire_\&_hci_storage_node:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h300s_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h410s_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h500s_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h700s_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h410c_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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